by Paul Ramlow, USTA Internet News Editor

Columbus, OH — A field of 17 sophomore trotters, including three $50,000 supplemental entries, as well as the filly Pampered Princess, will head to the post on Saturday, October 6, at The Red Mile in the $742,000 Kentucky Futurity.

David Scharf, Golden Touch Stable and Steven Arnold’s Donato Hanover will be looking to extend his unbeaten streak as he starts from post position five in the second elimination, race nine on The Red Mile card. Trained by Steve Elliott, the Andover Hall-D Train sophomore has won 17 straight races on his way to 2007 earnings of $1,908,000. Ron Pierce will drive.

Donato Hanover will tackle the filly Pampered Princess (post eight, John Campbell) and Quebec sensation Val Taurus (post seven, Mike Lachance), one of the supplemental entries, in that nine-horse second elimination.

Bob and David Anderson’s Pampered Princess has banked $804,021 in 2007 thanks to six wins and three seconds in 10 trips to the post. She has hit the board in 20 of her 22 lifetime starts, while earning $1,430,265. Jimmy Takter conditions the Andover Hall-Bold Dreamer miss.

Lorraine Auger’s Val Taurus has won 16 of his 17 lifetime starts, with career earnings of $361,688. He suffered his only defeat in the $970,000 Canadian Trotting Classic Final when he broke before the start and never regained his stride. Normand Bardier, Jr. is the trainer of the Taurus Dream-Valbonne sophomore.

The other two supplemental entries, Yonkers Trot winner Green Day and Anderberg, have drawn into the first elimination and will start side-by-side in posts three and four, respectively.

Trillium Racing Stable’s Green Day has won 10 of his 18 starts this year, including the $644,770 Yonkers Trot Final, ringing up earnings of $612,175. Jim Raymer conditions the Enjoy Lavec-Sonoma Hanover lad.

John Green and Pinnacle Racing Stable’s Anderberg has hit the board in seven of nine starts this year, banking $177,342. The Andover Hall-Lady Ironsides colt takes his lessons from George “Buzzy” Sholty.

The top five horses in each first heat elimination will advance to the second heat. If neither elimination winner captures the second heat, a three-horse race-off will be held to determine the winner.

Here’s the field, in post position order, for each elimination.

First Elimination – Race 8
Post – Horse – Driver – Morning line
1. Standpoint – TBA – 15-1
2. Rune – Marcus Johansson – 5-1
3. Green Day – Andy Miller – 5/2
4. Anderberg – George Brennan – 12-1
5. Up Front Larry – Dave Palone – 10-1
6. Flirtin Man – John Campbell – 7/2
7. Mythical Lindy – David Miller – 3-1
8. Blessed Victory – Luc Ouellette – 20-1

Second Elimination – Race 9
1. Up Front Ben – Tim Tetrick – 15-1
2. Photo Maxx – Marcus Johansson – 10-1
3. Operation Lindy – Dave Palone – 12-1
4. Please Poppy – Yannick Gingras – 12-1
5. Donato Hanover – Ron Pierce – 9/5
6. Arch Madness – Brian Sears – 10-1
7. Val Taurus – Mike Lachance – 3-1
8. Pampered Princess – John Campbell – 7/2
9. Manfinity – George Brennan – 20-1